THE SELECTION METHOD. 99 



reproduction and the association of different kinds 

 of trees better than any other method of treatment. 

 These advantages are so great that it must often be 

 adopted for reasons, not numerous in themselves, it 

 is true, but the necessity of conforming to which 

 frequently arises. 



TRANSFORMATION OF FORESTS WORKED BY SELEC- 

 TION. Whenever atmospheric influences are no 

 obstacle to regeneration, and the soil is placed under 

 favourable conditions, such forests should always be 

 transformed into regular high forest and worked by 

 the method of thinnings. But the disadvantages 

 attached to the selection method have been recog- 

 nised for many years, and transformation has ever 

 since been undertaken wherever it was possible. 

 Indeed people have in this respect gone so far that in 

 many places where experience has proved the danger 

 of endeavouring to obtain a regular regeneration 

 by successive areas annually it will be necessary 

 to bring back the forest into its former state. 



Whatever be the particular method adopted, the 

 transformation of forests treated by this method 

 comprises two cultural operations, which must be 

 carried on simultaneously : the regeneration of a 

 certain portion of the forest, and the continuance of 

 selection over the remainder. But thinnings cannot 

 be allowed, except in such parts as are already trans- 

 formed, or in those that already present a certain 

 degree of uniformity and which, when the time fixed 

 for their regeneration arrives, we may expect to find 

 in a flourishing condition. 



The regeneration cuttings that must be carried 



